BIMM Music Institute Dublin announces this year’s scholarship winners
BIMM Music Institute Dublin are delighted to announce the winners of this year’s 2FM & IMRO Diploma scholarships. We caught up with winners Oisín Murray and Laura McCabe to get the lowdown.
Oisín Murray, RTÉ 2FM Diploma Scholarship Winner
Oisín Murray is a musician, songwriter and producer from Ballinteer, Dublin. His hip-hop band Radical Centrists have performed at popular shows in the Workman’s Club and at Longitude Festival. Oisín is currently taking part in the Sound Training TiLT Development Deal as a member of the band Dexterity.
How did you feel when you first received the news that you were the 2fm scholarship winner?
I got the call from BIMM and didn’t even consider that it was about me winning the scholarship. I was really surprised and delighted. Receiving this scholarship is such an encouraging boost. I’m now more driven than ever to learn everything I can about producing great quality music.
2FM is one of Ireland’s largest radio platforms. How does it feel to know that you have their backing?
It feels amazing. I’m so grateful to RTÉ 2FM and BIMM for this amazing opportunity. I have been playing and working in the Dublin music scene for a few years, but I’ve wanted to enhance my skills. People like Adam Fogarty promote and support a lot of modern Irish artists that I love. So to be included amongst that is incredible.
What are you most excited for during your time at BIMM?
Meeting and learning from new people. Whether it be other students or the lecturers who are all industry experts, I’m excited to get stuck in and learn from fellow music lovers.
What do you have planned for the future?
I would love to get involved in studio production, and I also have the beginnings of a small home studio where I’d like to bring in local acts. Aside from that, I’m definitely going to apply what I learn in BIMM to my own future music releases as a solo artist and with my band Radical Centrists. I really want to bring my home recordings up to a professional standard.
Laura McCabe, IMRO Diploma Scholarship Winner
Laura McCabe independently set up artist management company Frank Music MGMT that focused on representing queer Irish female and non-binary artists. She’s worked with Molly Sterling, Naoise Roo, and currently represents rising star electro-folk artist Jackie Beverly.
More recently, Laura has joined forces with Management and PR company Jawdropper, bringing her own roster across to amalgamate with Jawdropper’s. (this will be announced officially at the end of this week or early next week). Their roster includes Æ MAK, Robert Grace, Columbia Mills, Dark Tropics and many more.
What does winning this scholarship mean to you?
It was definitely the signal I needed that I was going down the right path. It also takes huge financial pressure off me, which is a plus! Being recognised in this way was the boost I needed to keep pursuing my dream career. When you work independently, there’s so much more space for doubts and fears to creep in, so being awarded this scholarship has definitely helped keep those demons at bay!
IMRO is such a prominent organisation throughout Ireland. How does it feel that they chose you?
IMRO is such a valuable support to Irish musicians, and it only goes to show how true they are to their values by backing this scholarship. Being selected for this scholarship alone was overwhelming, but the fact that it came from IMRO meant so much more.
What are you most looking forward to during your time at BIMM?
I’m really looking forward to creating the space to learn my craft, and taking the time to go back to the basics of Music Business, and learn it from the ground up. Everything I know so far has been learnt through experience, so I’m looking forward to having the support of academic learning and expertise to back it all up.
What can we expect to see from you in the future?
One day running my own successful music management company representing female and non-binary artists. That has been the big dream since dipping my toe into the music industry waters. There needs to be more female representation in our industry, and I want to actively play a part in making our industry a more equal and safe place.
Thinking about applying for BIMM Dublin. Why wait? You can apply or book an Open Day here.
